Anesthesia is a modern marvel in the field of medicine, enabling health care providers to perform surgeries and deliver treatments that would never be possible because of the pain. However, the medications used by anesthesiologists are powerful. The risk of harm is considerable with an anesthesia error, and the consequences for the patient can be catastrophic. While you may realize that Florida medical malpractice laws protect your rights, you may not know how to go about enforcing them.
At Freidin Brown, P.A., our team focuses on all types of med mal claims, including mistakes by anesthesiologists. We have the experience and knowledge of the relevant laws, so you can count on us to help you recover fair compensation for your losses. Please contact us to schedule a free case evaluation with a St. Petersburg anesthesia error lawyer. An overview is also helpful.
How Anesthesia Mistakes Happen
Medical negligence is the basis of these cases, and the general definition is the failure to provide treatment in accordance with the applicable standard of care. For anesthesia malpractice, the standard is measured by how another anesthesiologist would have performed his or her job tasks. Any deviation could give rise to a claim, such as:
- Failure to review the patient’s chart for allergies and medical conditions
- Not properly assessing the patient’s weight, physical condition, and age
- Neglecting to monitor the patient’s vital signs during the procedure
- Administering too much medication, leading to anesthesia overdose
- Underdosing with anesthesia, possibly causing anesthesia awareness
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Legal Process for Med Mal Cases
In most cases, your first step toward recovering monetary damages is filing a claim with the anesthesiologist’s medical malpractice insurer. It may be possible to settle, but insurance companies often deny claims to protect their financial interests.
If the insurer will not pay sufficient compensation, the next step is litigation. However, there are prefiling requirements under Florida law. You must prove to the court that your case has merit, which typically means obtaining an opinion from a medical expert. There are also regular litigation tasks, such as court appearances, motions, discovery, and depositions. When the trial date comes, both sides will have the opportunity to present evidence, testimony, and arguments in favor of their respective positions.
Compensation for Victims
Monetary damages in a medical malpractice case aim to make the patient whole after suffering harm and related losses. Some damages are expressed in terms of dollar value, while others impact quality of life. The St. Petersburg anesthesia error attorneys at Freidin Brown, P.A. will help you obtain amounts for:
- Medical expenses for treatment
- Lost income, if you were unable to work during your recovery
- Pain and suffering
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Emotional distress
A St. Petersburg Anesthesia Error Lawyer Will Protect Your Interests
If you have concerns about mistakes by an anesthesiologist, please contact Freidin Brown, P.A. to discuss your options for recovering compensation. We can set up a complimentary consultation with a Florida anesthesia error attorney. Once we learn more about your circumstances, we can provide additional details on how the process works.